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Analyzing the Disparities in European Air Traffic and Freight Challenges

Analyzing the Disparities in European Air Traffic and Freight Challenges

James Miller
by 
James Miller
3 minutes read
News
July 15, 2025

Overview of Air Traffic Trends

The European air traffic report for May reveals intriguing dynamics in both passenger and freight movements across various airport markets. Notably, while passenger traffic appears robust, the freight sector encounters challenges that warrant deeper examination.

Passenger Traffic Performance

In May, passenger traffic across Europe’s airport network saw an increase of 3.4% compared to the same month the previous year. This surge places current volumes 8% above the levels recorded before the pandemic in May 2019, indicating a thriving trend among travelers once again.

Regional Insights

Interestingly, airports outside the EU continue to outperform their EU counterparts. For example, Moldova experienced a remarkable growth rate of 41.9%, while nations like Bosnia & Herzegovina and Georgia reported increases of 30.5% and 23.4% respectively. Conversely, Türkiye showed a softer growth of only 1.8%, and Russia felt the pinch with a decline of 9.2%.

EU Market Breakdown

The EU market experienced a passenger traffic rise of 2.9% led by Eastern European countries, where Slovakia and Hungary posted outstanding figures of 33% and 15.3% respectively. However, Estonia and Luxembourg recorded downturns of 6.2% and 3.6%, raising concerns about regional disparities within the EU.

The Freight Traffic Conundrum

While passenger traffic booms, freight traffic took a hit, declining by 6.3% year-on-year in May. The EU+ airports clocked a downward trend of 7.6%, whereas non-EU+ airports fared slightly better, with only a 1.1% increase. When viewed against pre-pandemic levels, freight volumes reflect a marginal decrease of 0.7%.

Top Performers in Freight Traffic

Among Europe’s busiest airports for freight, Liège stood out with an impressive increase of 18.1%, followed by Brussels at 15.7%. Despite robust passenger numbers, the freight side showcases a different reality, underlining the necessity for logistics solutions that enhance freight efficiency.

Comparative Analysis of Airport Segments

A closer look at various airport segments indicates that major airports (over 40 million passengers) exhibited the slowest growth rate of 2.7% in May compared to the previous year. Performance leaders in this category included Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen and Rome Fiumicino, with notable traffic increases of 14.9% and 4.1%.

Small Versus Large Airports

Interestingly, small airports, with less than 1 million passengers, displayed impressive growth, achieving an increase of 11%, though still lagging 26.7% behind pre-pandemic levels.

Aircraft Movements: An Overview

May also saw a 2.4% increase in aircraft movements compared to last year, slightly exceeding pre-pandemic levels by 0.1%. This uptick reflects a potential rebound in operational capacity and demand.

Group Performance Insights

The data showcases a mixed bag of outcomes across various categories of airports based on passenger numbers:

Airport Category Passenger Growth Rate
Majors (>40 million) +2.7%
Mega (25-40 million) +2.8%
Large (10-25 million) +4.2%
Medium (1-10 million) +3%
Small (<1 million) +11%

Among those that grew substantially were Milan MXP at 9.2% and Málaga AGP at 8.7%, pointing to the underlying potential for moving passengers and enhancing logistics capabilities.

Conclusion and Implications for Logistics

This air traffic report captures a pivotal juncture in European aviation, where rising passenger numbers contrast sharply with declining freight traffic. As consumers continue to flock towards travel and leisure opportunities, airlines face mounting challenges such as aircraft shortages and evolving geopolitical factors that could further sway both passenger and freight dynamics.

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